BARBED-WIRE ENCIRCLED WORLD

BARBED-WIRE ENCIRCLED WORLD

Having a vision inside a dream of
The barbed-wire encircled world
the prisons overflowing
sending in the troops to silence the poor and needy
death squads roaming the streets
to keep the peace -

seeing  millions massacred 
millions left to starve
in a world of plenty
the inmates in desperation 
ready to run riot
to take it all back
rising up demanding their share
killing the guards
scaling the prison walls
passing the guard towers and searchlights   
til then no change is going to come -

some having found God why worry about the rest
finding comfort and peace for themselves
deluding themselves and the world
in the arms of their hip New Age
globe-trotting Armani suited limo driving Messiah
Guru or TV Evangelist
losing their pride and dignity
serving their masters
becoming slaves to the Gods of success and power
believing those who have the gold make the rules
and the world goes round
and there’s no way out
and there’s nothing to be done
and there’s nothing new under the sun
so the Bible says
believing only fools and children weep
for those who do without
for those who never had a chance
and the world goes round
as the poor fight each other 
over the meager scraps left to them 
and no change is ever going to come-

and the world goes round 
and its always the same
and those in need praying on their knees
to imaginary Gods and Messiahs
for big screen TVS designer clothes Olympic-sized swimming pools 
luxury cars condos mansions estates and a little leer-jet
having lost their humanity
dreaming of being one of those
they once despised
living like the rich and powerful
forgetting who they once were
making fun of all who dream
as they once did 
and no change is going to come -

and the world goes round
leaving millions in despair
having visions in dreams
of a world that could be 
if only.. if only...
only if you’re ready to rise up
struggling day after day 
refusing at the end of the day
to buy into all they are selling
and so at the end of the day
at the end of it all
can you look them in the eye
all those left behind
abandoning all those left behind
shedding crocodile tears for all those
left behind having lost all hope 
stuck in their daily grind
all those still begging on the streets
all those still dying in the streets
all those crushed by their burdens 
all those phony rebels waiting
for thirty pieces of silver or so
all just a passing phase
becoming old and cynical
poking fun at all who dare to care
so the change never comes to pass-
and the world goes round
no change is going to come -

and the world goes round
and no one answers the call
maybe someday they say 
but not this day they say
as they drink champagne 
cruising in their Cadillacs 
Mercedes and Limousines 
confusing their good fortune
with some divine reward 
believing they are the chosen ones
to be served by those who lost the race
and the world goes round
and no change is going to come -

and the world goes round and round
and another generation plots and schemes
and in the end the world goes round
and another generation makes a deal
with their lords and masters
trying to make the best of it all
and the world goes round
and another generation is lost 
to the Gods of Greed
and the world goes round 
and no change is going to come -